Todd's Saga 41: Happily Ever After

“Yes Phil, I’m closing the OTB office in New Orleans and moving it up to Llanview.  I’d like you to stay on as my assistant, but I’ll understand if you choose to stay in Louisiana...You’ll stay on. That’s great.  Then here is what I need you to do.” After giving Phillippa her instructions, Todd turned to find Viki glaring at him.  He looked around bewildered. “What?”

“Todd, the wedding is in a couple of hours and you haven’t even started getting ready.  What are you doing?”

“Just getting some details taken care of concerning OTB.  I don’t want anything to stop this honeymoon trip.  I promised Blair no last-minute distractions.”

“Todd, you and Blair deserve this trip.  We’ve got everything covered so you don’t have to worry about the children.  Honestly, I’m thrilled you and Blair trust me to take care of Rose Victoria.  Jessica and Bree can’t wait to help.  Dorian and David are taking Jack and Sam to Paris, so they're going to be okay.”

“Oh God, don’t remind me.  I know Jack needs to get away because of the whole thing with that teacher. But I still think the boys would have been happier if Dorian was taking them to Comic-Con and then the beach.”

Viki laughed. “Just thinking of Dorian surrounded by all those convention fans and their weird get-ups is hilarious.  She would go nuts.  Of course, David would be in his element.”

Todd smiled, he was imagining the story he could write with Dorian surrounded by costumed heroes.  “I think I’ll need to have a chat with David.  The two of us might be able to get Dorian to see reason.  I want the boys to have some fun, the last couple of months have been anything but.”

Viki suddenly realized that Todd still wasn’t moving to get dressed.  “Well, we’ve managed to waste some more time just talking.  I think you need to concentrate on getting ready now.”

“I don’t know what all the rush is.  We’re just renewing our vows.  Blair and I are already married, remember?”  Todd turned back toward his bed.  His tuxedo was all laid out, but he found himself hesitating.

Viki walked up to her brother and touched his arm. “What’s the matter?”

Todd looked down at her, tears glistening in his eyes.  “I’m having a hard time believing this is all real.  Three years ago,  I was questioning my own sanity.  After all this time, I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that my mother held me prisoner and put my twin brother in my place.  If it weren’t for you and Blair and the kids, I’m not sure I’d be standing here right now.”

Viki put a hand on Todd’s cheek. “You’d be here.  You’ve lived through some horrible things in your life, but each thing has only made you who you are.  We fight our demons differently, but the thing is, we fight.  What our parents did to us only served to temper us and make us stronger than them and in the end, we won, Todd.  This isn’t all a dream or even a fairy tale, this is real life.  You and Blair are together because you got past all the bad and finally learned to trust each other.” She gave him a gentle hug. “Get dressed. You don’t want to leave your bride at the altar by herself.  I’ll see you at the church.”

She started to leave, but Todd caught her hand and stopped her. He gave her a simple kiss on the cheek. “Thanks.”   She smiled and left the room.  Todd looked around, sighed, and proceeded to get dressed.

****

Blair finished dressing her daughter.  Her sweet baby girl was thriving from all the attention she had been getting in the last few days.  She had been born with a mop of brown curls and bright green eyes.  She was generally a very quiet baby but when she was upset, it was her father who calmed her down.  Blair tugged the little rose-shaped tam onto her daughter's sleeping head. "There you are my little rosebud. Daddy's going to just love this outfit."  Blair suddenly felt panicked, she picked up her daughter and held her close to her heart.  “Oh Rose, Daddy is going to be so mad at me.  He’s gone to all this planning to give us a true honeymoon, but I don’t think I can leave you.  I’ll just have to convince him it’s too soon.”  She kissed her sleeping daughter and laid her back into the bassinet.  There was a knock on her bedroom door and suddenly Starr, Langston, Kelly, and Dorian were sweeping into the room.   They all started to talk at once and Blair shushed them.  “Quiet. Rose is sleeping.  I don’t want her getting fussy at church.”

Langston spoke up.  “Look, I’ll take Rose into my bedroom so she can sleep and I’ll keep an eye on her.  That way the rest of you can get Blair ready.”

Blair nodded and Langston carefully rolled the bassinet down the hall to her room.   As Kelly and Starr began to lay out her dress, Blair walked over to her jewelry box and pulled out an old tattered photo.

Dorian joined her and looked at the photo in her hands.  “You were right, all those years ago.  He is the one for you.  I’m sorry I ever doubted his love for you.”

Blair smiled. She looked over at Starr giggling with Kelly. “We loved each other so much that day.  Today that love is stronger and richer than ever.  We’ve finally found that trust we searched for so long ago.  It took us a while to get here, but I remember something Todd said to me on New Year’s Eve 2011.  I had pointed out how the good times with him were great, but the bad times were terrible and he said.  ‘That’s life.’  To him, it was as simple as that.  That night he promised that he loved me and that he loved our children and that he would be there for us and he asked if that was enough.  I couldn’t answer him.  I was afraid to trust." She ran a finger down the photo.  "Dorian, the night Peterson threatened us all if Todd didn’t leave town, I finally realized Todd was right.  It was enough.  He was leaving to keep us safe, but I wasn’t going to let him go without letting him know we would be here when he came back." She turned her wedding ring and kissed it. "I love him so much sometimes it hurts.”

Dorian put an arm around Blair.  “I know.  Let’s get you dressed.  It’s time you both got what you wished for.”

****

In the midst of getting ready for the wedding, Victor paused to take a look at the morning edition of The Sun. The headline read:

Todd Manning the Real Man behind Tony Butler.

Two pictures, one of Todd Manning and another of Tony Butler were on the front page.  The story of Todd’s faking his death and reinventing himself as Tony Butler followed.  His meteoric rise as Tony Butler in the business world and his hand in helping the Feds with the recent conspiracy scandal in Washington made for good copy and it had taken Victor every shred of patience he had to finally talk Todd into letting him print the story.

Tea moved up behind Victor. “So how does it feel to be back in control of The Sun?”

Victor looked over his shoulder at his wife. “It feels right.  I know Todd still owns the controlling interest but he promised he would stay out of the way.  I think he really wants to pour himself into OTB and that’s fine with me.”

“Well, I’m just glad he realized you deserved a share of his inheritance.  After all, you were the one responsible for The Sun going international in the first place. “

“Yeah, but I admit I was surprised.  I still have no real memory of my early years of growing up.  All I have are Todd’s memories.  The knowledge that I actually helped my crazy mother when I became Todd still doesn’t seem possible.  Todd and I did an intense audit of the eight years I was him and it turns out there were numerous money transactions and deals with what now appears as a front for Irene’s organization.  I can understand why he hated me when he came back.”

“It still didn’t give him the right to shoot you.”

“He was under Irene’s control and didn’t know it. Besides, he really didn't shoot me.  After this last year and everything with Peterson’s organization getting control of her projects then being turned into one of those projects.  I can definitely understand.  It’s over Tea.  I’m here.  I didn’t die and I have him to thank for getting my life back.”  Victor turned and drew Tea into his arms.  “How’s Dani doing?”

“She’s very confused.  She had no idea Arturo was using her. It was a shock to find out he worked for Peterson.  Jack is just as shell-shocked about his summer school teacher.  Peterson was so controlling, he had everyone being watched.  It’s scary how much power he had here in Llanview and to find out all about his other plans is mind-boggling.”

“The guy’s a narcissistic egomaniac and I hope both he and that whacked-out sister of his get put in the darkest hole the government has and never see daylight again.” Victor frowned  “I don’t want to think about him for now.”  His eyes wandered down and his hand slowly moved down Tea’s back.  “Do we really have to go to this wedding?  Shoot they’re already married, why are they even doing this?”

Tea stopped Victor’s hand from going lower. “Well from a legal standpoint, Todd was considered dead.  He just officially got his name back, but I think it’s for the same reason we renewed our vows.  We wanted to show our love to the world and I think Todd and Blair want to do the same.  Besides, I think he needs his best man there.”

“Whatever.  Okay, well get Dani and the boys, I want to get this over.  I can only take so much of a happy Todd."

****

Todd walked into St James.  Memories flooded back: CJ and Sarah showing up to be at his wedding. Little CJ saying so importantly. "I'm the Usher"  Todd remembered looking at his sister Viki and asking if she wanted to stay and CJ walked up to Viki and asked if she was with the Bride or the Groom and Viki had answered, "The Groom, he's my brother." Todd took a deep breath. Both he and Viki had come so far from that day. 

Todd headed down the aisle and paused at the altar looking back. He again found himself remembering Blair walking down the aisle pregnant with Starr. They had been so happy.  Life had interfered with that happiness, life, and his own mistakes, but this time everything had changed.  They had come full circle.  

He saw Andrew Carpenter talking to the current pastor. When he and Blair talked about renewing their vows in the church, she had insisted on asking Andrew.  It had taken every ounce of persuasion he had to talk Andrew into presiding again.  Todd caught Andrew’s eye and then walked to meet him.

“Todd, I hope this is the last time we have to do this.  I know you and Blair love each other, but you’ve never been able to make it work before.  Cassie tells me you’ve changed and for your and Blair’s sake I pray that is true.”

“Reverend, no one wants this marriage to work more than me.  I’m done trying to fight the whole world.  All I want is the chance to help Blair raise our new daughter and spend time getting to know Jack and Dani properly.  I’m grateful you are willing to help us start this new life.” Todd held out his hand.

Andrew looked at it for a moment and then shook it. “I guess we all want those chances, Todd.” Andrew glanced around. “It looks like some people are beginning to arrive.  Are you ready?”  Todd nodded and followed Andrew to the side altar to wait.  

Todd watched as Victor, Jack, and Sam came up the side aisle towards him. “Where are Tea and Dani?”

Victor and Jack groaned in unison and Sam chimed in. “They went to find Mom.  They both wanted to see what she’s wearing.”

“You know this is ridiculous.  You should have just skipped all this froufrou and taken Blair on the honeymoon.” Victor said superciliously.

“Hey, don’t take that tone with me.  I heard all about the reception and renewal of vows you and Tea had, Bro.”

Sam snickered.  “He even had Dani sing a special song.”

Todd raised an eyebrow at his brother and Victor waved his hand.  

“Whatever,” Victor said and looked pointedly at his son. “Thanks, Sam.”

Tea walked up the aisle.  “Victor, you and Todd can chat later.  Right now you and the boys need to take your places by the Maid of Honor and Blair. It’s time.”  She watched as Victor and the boys went back to the entrance. Then she turned toward Todd.  “With everything that has happened in the last couple of months we haven’t really had a chance to talk.”

“Tea, do you really think this is the time?” Todd was uncomfortable, he was happy and didn’t really want Tea to rain on his happiness.

“I think it’s the best time.  I know now that you and Blair have always been meant for each other.  When you came back, I was furious and confused, but then I realized that your brother filled something in me I never would have gotten from you.  After he died and I lost our baby, all I felt for you was loathing." Todd started to speak but Tea stopped him. "I know, he turned up alive and I had him back, and through no fault of yours, he left again and I blamed you and that was wrong of me.  You swore you would bring him home and I didn’t believe you. I told Blair she was a fool to believe you but she did. She knew the real you, the one I never really saw." Tea stopped and cleared her throat.  "I’m sorry, Todd.  Thank you for bringing him home.” Before he could say anything, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and left.

Todd put a hand to his cheek and smiled a bit ruefully. He took out his handkerchief and wiped off her lipstick.  Looking at the stain, he made a mental note to tell Blair about Tea’s apology and kiss.  “You don’t want her pushing Tea out a window again, do you Manning?” he chuckled and pocketed the handkerchief.  The music started and Todd moved to his place beside Andrew and turned to get ready for Blair. His heart swelled as he looked at his side of the church.  He watched as Clint escorted Viki and they joined Jessica and Brody.  Natalie and John sat behind them with Liam and his eyes widened as he saw Tina and Cord there also. Tea and Dani took their places on the front row waiting for Jack and Sam to join them. On Blair’s side were Cassie and River, Kelly and Joey, and Langston and Marco. David escorted Dorian and Addie in and they took their places at the head of the Cramer clan. 

 The music changed again and Sam carried in the rings as Bree spread flower petals. Todd’s heart tugged for a moment as he remembered his lovely little Hope.  Then Victor walked in alongside Starr who carried her sister Rose. Todd shook hands with his brother and kissed his two daughters and then returned to his place to await Blair.

Todd’s heart almost stopped when he saw the gown Blair was wearing.  Her hair was piled high on her head and the years dropped away as he saw her walking up the aisle in the same gown she had worn for their second wedding. The only difference was that Jack escorted his mother up the aisle this time.  He moved to accept her hand from Jack and he heard Jack’s quiet little statement: “Don't hurt her again.  She loves you.” Todd met his son’s eyes. “Don’t worry, I won’t. I love her more than life itself.” Jack nodded and handed his mother’s hand to his father.

Blair smiled at Todd.  She had seen his face at her entrance and knew he remembered.  It was a new day and they still had a whole life to live. They would never turn back time, but they could certainly move forward because the past was just that, the past.  “Are you ready?” she asked him.

Todd wrapped her hand with his. “I told you the fairy tale wasn’t over. This is it, Babe, a whole new beginning.”  They turned and started their new journey.

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